All of Harry Potter and anything related to it are the sole property of J.K. Rowling.

(Each title is derived from a song that, I believe, complements the overall narrative, if not the individual chapter.)

* This Chapter contains snippets of the original chapter from Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince.

Hogwarts 30th June 1997

Hermione's Point of View

We had a wonderful few weeks back at Hogwarts after his birthday. We had spent every free moment together, laughing, cuddling, and making love. Sometimes in places we shouldn't have dared to. We even snuck out to the lake one night and had a picnic in the moonlight. It was stupid and reckless, but we both seemed to need to spend time outside of the room. I knew that for me, I just wanted the knowledge that this time with him was truly real.

But as time progressed, I noticed that the skin around his eyes was becoming pinched again. I could see the panic setting back in, and I wasn't completely sure why. I had assumed whatever he was working on in the Room of Requirement must have been complete because he rarely ventured there now, and when he did, it was for no more than an hour or two. I knew we only had a few weeks left together, but there seemed to be more to his stress than our impeding parting.

I had tried to ask him about it once, and he had become even more panicked, so I had dropped it again, feeling helpless and scared. I had decided to just try, as best I could, to ignore the end that was coming and make him as happy as I could. But I could feel him slipping away from me, and I didn't know how to stop it.

The weeks passed quickly, and then everything changed. That morning, Draco told me that he had run out of time and that his mission for Voldemort was to take place tonight. He looked more miserable and scared than I had ever seen him before, but I was having trouble believing that we had no more time. My heart was pounding with fear and denial, not ready at all for our time together to be over.

Draco spent much of the day pacing back and forth in nothing but his pajama pants, restless and anxious, but still making sure I had everything I would need for the future. He had given me potions—more potions than I most likely would need for the coming year. He also gave me a pack, which he said contained potions and other things he had had Jomny purchase for after the baby was born, to heal my body within a matter of days rather than weeks and months. He even produced a potion of his own design, yellow honey-coloured, that he explained would strip me of my memories. He wanted me to take it before I left my parents behind, in case I was captured or tortured, and he looked furious at the thought.

I knew he had been working on something to block my memories, but I never imagined that he would want to strip my memories from me completely, and the thought of it sent a sharp pain through my heart.

Every hour that passed, I felt as though my heart was breaking just a little more. I sat in a state of shock most of the day, just answering his prompts that I had everything and knew how to use it. I felt like I was losing not only him and the baby, but also a huge part of myself.

Neither of us felt much like eating, and the few times I needed to leave the room, he accompanied me as if the thought of being apart, even for a few minutes, was unbearable. I was glad because I hated the thought too. He would hold my invisible hand tightly in his until we reached the Slytherin witches' lavatory. There, he would wait patiently by the wall, ready to take it once again on the way back.

Even Aiden seemed upset inside of me; he kept kicking and squirming, as if he sensed something was wrong. Draco made me take a Calming Draught early in the afternoon when he saw how uncomfortable Aiden was making me and that he wasn't settling down, demonstrating once again just how attentive and caring he really was, even while feeling his own anguish.

I looked at Draco with panic as the day neared dusk, and then he started talking again, but this time with something of a plan.

"I need you to do something for me," he told me, his voice somehow both empty and determined.

"What's that?" I asked so softly that I was surprised he heard me. My panic had formed into a large lump in my throat, making it hard to speak, and it and my heart were hurting terribly.

"I will have Jomny come get you soon, and I want you to go to Dumbledore at once. Tell him you were outside walking or something. It doesn't matter, just as long as you tell him you saw the Dark Mark in the sky above us and feared what it meant. He will alert the Order of the Phoenix," he said with a firm nod as he continued to pace. I swallowed and couldn't really believe what I was hearing, shaking in fear.

"Okay," I murmured. He stopped pacing all at once and looked at the door.

"I should go. I'm supposed to begin shortly before nightfall," he breathed, sounding emotionless. I was at the door at once, shaking my head.

"I can't let you go. We've done this all wrong. This is all wrong. There must have been something we could have done," I cried, my voice breaking. I leaned back against the door, blocking his way, my heart breaking completely to pieces. He came and knelt before me, his head cuddling my large belly. I ran my fingers through his soft white-blonde hair, trying to comfort myself with the texture.

"Go with them, Hermione; go with your parents," he begged, and looked up at me with tears now falling down his face.

"You know I can't do that," I whispered back, mine falling just as fast.

"He, Aiden, he needs you too," he said, laying his hand reverently against my stomach, and I cried out at the injustice of this situation.

"He needs you too," I cried.

"Damn it!" He shouted in anger and grief, surging to his feet, pulling me into his arms, and hugging me tight. "Why can't we have this? Why does it have to be like this?" he whispered in pain as he held me, sobbing against him. "I would tell the world that I am in love with you if I could. I would be yours, Granger... if I could."

I was shaking with emotion and said, "I would be yours, Draco... if I could." The full reality of everything falling over me.

He took my face in his hands, lifting it so I could see his grey eyes studying me intently. "Would you scream from the astronomy tower that you love me?" he asked me softly, trying to get a smile out of me.

"I would shout it from any rooftop you wanted me to... if we were free to be who we are... here," I told him, not able to smile at all. "It is hopeless. We are on different sides of this war, and I can't abandon Harry. I don't know if you believe how important he is, but if there is to be hope of any kind of future for children like Aiden, we have to win," I told him.

"I believe," he said, and I nodded at the sincerity in his voice. "Hermione," he said, and I watched as he grimaced in guilt and anger. "Promise me you'll remain up in your old dorm tonight. Promise me you won't leave it. I... I have been ordered to complete my mission tonight. You... I can't tell you how scared I am and how much I wish I didn't have to do this, but I can't let him kill my parents. And he will if I fail him," he said, looking terrified.

"I promise," I said, feeling as if I was trapped in a nightmare. I wanted to just hold him to me always, to comfort him, to tell him that everything would be alright. But I knew it was a lie. We were both trapped in a nightmare that we couldn't escape.

"I love you so much, Hermione, and it terrifies me to leave you. To do all I have to do, because I know you will never forgive me for it. How could you when I won't be able to forgive myself?" He told me, and the pain and fear were clear in his voice, his words scaring me terribly.

"Shhh, before you say too much," I told him, and felt guilty for not being brave enough to hear everything that he had to do. I didn't want to know the truth about this mission; I didn't want to know if people were at risk because that would mean I would have to betray him. I knew I would do it if I had to, and I also knew I would despise myself for it. And so, I chose to be selfish and keep the illusion I live within this room.

"I wish..." he swallowed, and more tears rolled down his face. I kissed him.

"Make love to me one last time. I really need you to hold me once more before you go," I told him with all the honest misery my heart felt. I didn't need to prompt him more than that. His lips were on mine, and I was kissing him. What little clothes we had been wearing were coming off, but slowly, as if this were much too important now to rush through. On the bed, we sat facing each other, kissing and touching as much skin as we could reach.

"Remember how you said that we will keep each other in our hearts? How this room can't take that from us?" he asked softly. I nodded; my throat was too tight to talk through. "I want my touch to brand you. I want to show you precisely how beautiful you are to me so that even years from now you don't doubt your beauty."

"Stop," I begged him. "Stop saying goodbye to me. I can't bear it," I sobbed. He looked at me for a moment with sadness and tears in his own eyes, but then just leaned forward and kissed me again. He laid me back a little while later and did as he promised before entering me and watching me and himself as he moved with painful slowness. My orgasm, which I was sure wasn't going to happen, happened so suddenly, it took my breath away, and I cried because I was so overwhelmed. He pulled out of me, and went to get off the bed and I panicked again.

"No!" I said, surging up to grab his arm and stop him. He looked back at me in question, and I said, "I deserve the same. I never want you to doubt yourself either, Draco. I want you to know that I really have loved you. I want you to know that if I had my way, I always would."

He nodded and went to get off the bed again while saying, "Allow me to clean off."

"No," I said again, and he looked at me with his eyebrow raised in surprise and then smiled. "I love it when you smile," I told him for the first time in a long time, and the smile got bigger.

"I'm aware," he said smugly, making me chuckle a little. "Are you certain you want to do this, Love? I am coated in both of us."

"Yes. Come here," I said, pulling on his arm to encourage him to return to me. He crawled closer once again and then watched as I leaned up and took him into my mouth. I loved the hiss he let out as he looked down at me as I sucked him clean, but he didn't let me bring him to completion this way.

"Let me fuck you again one more time, Love. Let me hold you before I have to go," he begged on a groan of pleasure, pushing me gently away from him. I looked up into his eyes and once more couldn't speak, so just nodded. He positioned me on my side, where he held me from behind and made love to me with care and reverence as we both cried. I could feel his tears on my shoulder and running down my neck as mine soaked into my pillow, and completion came with more heartache.

"I promise, no matter what happens, I will come back to you. No matter if you hate me, I'll be back," he whispered into the skin of my shoulder, but I had no response to that and just stared at the wall behind the bath. I couldn't look at him now, not as I heard him write in his diary and then dress as he prepared to leave me. He came around the bed and took my face in another kiss, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold back any more tears. "Dress as soon as you can, Love. It'll only be about fifteen minutes until I send up the Mark," he whispered as I felt him stroke my cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Okay," I managed to get out, feeling another crack form in my heart that was already in pieces. He gave me one last kiss on the lips, and then turned and left the room. My eyes opened just in time to see him step out and shut the door without looking back at me.

I was dressed and as composed as I was going to get when Jomny knocked on the door a short time later. I called out for him to come in, and I had never seen a House Elf look as devastated as he did just now. Perhaps Winky, but I still thought this looked different. Jomny looked desolate, and I went over and hugged the little guy. He was surprised at first, but then hugged me back with his skinny and oddly long arms.

"We must go, My Lady," he said in a low voice. I nodded and took my journal, which I left open on my trunk so I could see the notes I had written myself.

"I need to see Professor Dumbledore at once," I told him. Jomny nodded, then concentrated, and then looked back at me with distress.

"The headmaster is not in the school," he told me, and I frowned myself.

"Professor McGonagall, then," I decided, not wanting to waste a moment of time.

"Of course, My Lady," he replied obediently. He popped me in front of the deputy headmaster's office, and I knocked.

I heard her familiar stern voice saying, "Enter." I opened the door and saw Professor McGonagall sitting at her desk, looking very busy. She looked up and saw me, and her expression instantly turned disapproving, and dropped back to look at her work. "Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" she asked without looking at me.

"I wanted to see Professor Dumbledore, but Jomny has informed me he is away at the moment..." I started, but she interrupted.

"He is a busy man, Miss Granger, and he does have other responsibilities," she said shortly, sounding annoyed.

"I saw the Dark Mark above the school just now," I blurted, and finally she did look up at me. She gasped and dropped her quill back onto her desk. Her green eyes widened as she looked at me with disbelief.

"Are you sure, Miss Granger?" she asked in a shocked tone.

"Yes, Professor, I'm sure. I saw it with my own eyes. It was huge, green, and glowing. It's not a sight one can mistake," I said with a hint of sarcasm that I never would have thought myself capable of when speaking with her. She narrowed her eyes at me, and I was saddened that our relationship had deteriorated to this point, but I wasn't going to be ashamed just because she seemed to think I should be.

"Go to the common room and stay there. I will alert the Order and the other professors at once," she said as she stood up. She put her wand to her throat and called the Heads of the Houses to her office immediately and then headed toward her fireplace. She grabbed a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the flames. I left her office then, knowing I had done all I could.

Even though the common room wasn't far away, I still allowed Jomny to pop me outside the portrait hole. Two things were obvious. Jomny was not going to be leaving my side until I was safely inside, and I had no clue what the password was.

"If you do not know the password, you cannot enter," the rude lady in the portrait told me.

"Could you please let..." I began, but Jomny made an impatient noise and popped away, surprising me. A short few moments later, the door swung open, and a confused Ron was standing on the other side.

"This belong to you?" He asked, amusement now in his voice, and gestured at the House Elf by his side. He was only dressed in pajama pants, and I blushed despite myself. Like Draco, he was built like a runner with nice definition, but I felt like I didn't need to know that he had freckles even on his chest and shoulders.

"A little early for bed, isn't it?" I commented, my voice curiously devoid of panic, as I stepped through the portrait hole, ignoring the protests of the fat lady.

"Harry is out with Dumbledore, and nobody was willing to play chess with me," Ron said casually, but he was looking at me with a grin on his face, as though he were pleased I was embarrassed to see him half dressed.

"Oh, no," I exclaimed, instead of paying the look any attention. My voice still sounded wrong to me, which helped make it clear to Ron that now wasn't the time for flirting.

"What is it?" he asked, suddenly concerned, and took my arm to lead me towards one of the many couches.

"Put on a shirt, Weasley. Some of us really don't need to see that," Cormac commented, and Lavender giggled from where she was sitting on his lap.

"Yeah, ah..." Ron said, suddenly remembering that he was in the common room half-naked and that every person present could see him. He let go of my arm and turned to leave, but I grabbed his to stop him. I took a step closer and whispered into his ear.

"The Dark Mark is above the school." There were a few cat calls and jeers at what people must have assumed was some kind of embrace, but Ron looked back at me with a horrified expression. He looked around the room and spotted Ginny.

"Go tell Ginny. She has been making sure the DA still meets. I'll be back in a moment," he said, and then sprinted up the stairs. I wasted no time going over to Ginny and explaining the situation to her. At first, she had misinterpreted the scene between Ron and me as well, but then she was all action. She took out her fake Galleon from her pocket and tapped it with her wand, sending out a message to all those still active in the DA.

I saw many heads around the room look over suddenly and give slight nods, including Lavender, who quickly disengaged from her boyfriend's lap. Ginny was quick and efficient in getting everybody ready to leave the room, and many of the rest, especially the younger years, were all looking at us curiously.

I was trying to decide how to best explain why I couldn't go with them and what I was going to say to Ginny and Ron when the decision was made for me in the form of Professor McGonagall and Bill Weasley stepping through the portrait hole.

"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall demanded.

"We are helping," Ron responded at once.

"You most assuredly are not Mr. Weasley. In fact, everybody, your attention, please," she called out loudly. "Until further notice, you are all confined to the common room. Anyone who steps a single foot outside this portrait tonight will find themselves on the next train home. Do I make myself clear?" she asked. There was a lot of grumbling, but agreements could be heard.

"Professor McGonagall," Ginny said firmly as the older woman turned to leave. "Professor Dumbledore himself approved the people of this group to help in times of emergency. I promise you; we have all been working hard to prepare for this." I was impressed with Ginny's stern commitment in the face of the older women's disapproval. Professor McGonagall looked ready to protest but then seemed to think of something.

"Very well," she agreed, "but only those who have trained." I saw Bill Weasley give her a shocked look, but then she turned to look right at me, where I stood next to Ron. "Not you, Miss Granger; you stay here," she said meaningfully and with that ever-present disapproval.

"Surely whatever illness she has isn't all that important she cannot help. She is one of the best at spells," Ron argued.

"I assure you, it is quite impossible," she told him, and then looked at me and said, "Don't you agree, Miss Granger?"

I felt a pang of guilt as I nodded. A part of me wished I could tell them the truth, but I knew it was too dangerous. "I'm sorry, Ron, Ginny. I can't help," I said. Everyone looked at me curiously but otherwise filed out. Ron was the last to go, and he looked reluctant to leave me behind.

"Be safe," I told him. He nodded and ducked out. Professor McGonagall and Bill left too. "Jomny," I whispered, hoping the little Elf was still close by.

"Yes, My Lady?" He asked, popping into view again.

"Can you do anything to guard the entrance? I don't want any of the students trying to leave, and I absolutely don't want anyone coming in who shouldn't be," I told him.

"Yes, My Lady," he replied and popped away, so I assumed he was going to do as I asked.

"What in Hades is happening, Granger?" Cormac and a few others came over to where I still stood by the exit.

"The school is under attack," I said, not realising just how true those words were. Turning, I went to sit on a couch I could watch the door from. I hoped they wouldn't ask me any more questions because I didn't have any answers.

Draco's Point of View

I took the time climbing the stairs to the seventh floor to practice my Occlumency after I had finished reading all my notes. There was no way I could face my aunt like I was now, especially given the thoughts I was entertaining. She wouldn't show any restraint at all in getting into my mind if I showed any kind of weakness or reluctance in my role, and I couldn't put Hermione in that kind of danger.

I reached a window that overlooked the grounds of Hogwarts, and I marvelled at its beauty. The sun was setting behind the hills, painting the sky in orange and purple hues. The lake and the forest appeared peaceful and calm, as if nothing was wrong. The castle stood tall and proud, as if it could withstand any attack. But I was aware that everything was about to change and that this could very well be my final view of Hogwarts as it was. I pondered if it would still appear this way if the Dark Lord won the war.

I took a few additional minutes to work on my Occlumency, fully aware that I needed to present an image of determination, confidence, and loyalty to the cause my aunt believed in wholeheartedly. I found myself having to suppress nearly all my emotions merely to muster the strength to move, and I hoped that would suffice.

"Jomny," I summoned, hearing the void in my voice, and wasn't bothered by it at all. He popped before me, and I pulled a handkerchief and a letter from my pocket. His large blue-green eyes widened in shock, at once understanding.

"No, master," he denied with feeling, his bat-like ears sagging, but I was too dead inside to do more than deliver lines now.

"I considered passing you on to Hermione, but I don't believe she would appreciate that," I informed my House Elf.

"Jomny will care for your Lady any way Jomny can," he declared, his indifference towards Hermione's stance on the ownership of House Elves evident. He had come to care a great deal for his Lady and was determined to remain with her if he could no longer serve his master.

I nodded and said, "I have one final order. Go to Hermione at once when we are done here. She will tell you where she needs to be. And naturally, do your utmost to ensure her well-being."

"Of course, master," Jomny said, sounding sad enough for the both of us.

"The Dark Lord will kill you if I don't free you. Please take this token and know you are free," I said in a dead tone, holding out the piece of square cloth and letter. The letter was addressed to him, so I was certain he would read it. Jomny accepted the letter and handkerchief with a trembling hand and let out a cry of agony when our bond broke. For Jomny, it was the worst feeling of his life; he felt as if half of him had just been severed. Without any further words, Jomny popped away.

I turned to the window I had minutes ago marvelled at and felt absolutely nothing. I conjured the Dark Mark and then walked over to open the door to the Room of Requirement. However, before I could, something occurred that hadn't happened in months. The coin that I had all but forgotten in my pocket, heated. I took it out to find that Dumbledore had been sighted in Hogsmeade. I hoped that meant he would Apparate back, and I thought the most logical place for that would be up on the astronomy tower. I hoped I got to him before he went back to his office.

After entering the RoR, I began my way to the Vanishing Cabinet when I remembered my diary was still in my robe pocket. Pausing, I set it down with a book that was unmistakable to me, one that I was certain I would recognise again should I have the opportunity to return for it.

In a short amount of time, I had the Vanishing Cabinet set to receive its visitor, and I stepped back to watch runes shine in sequence along the wood. Then the door opened, and my aunt stepped out, appearing as unhinged as ever.

"Draco," she said proudly and came to plant an insincere kiss on my cheek, and still I was unmoved. She regarded my dead face and smiled as if I were doing something intriguing. I was about to speak when the runes lit again and someone else stepped through wearing a mask of metal. I felt a flicker of fear shoot through me, but I fought it back down even as I wanted to question what was happening.

"Go, Draco," she told me with an insane smile. "Go complete your task while my friends and I have a little fun." I glanced at her and simply nodded. I was always pleased to leave her company, but now I was even more set on my new course of action. If I had access to my emotions now, I was positive I would have been praying to Salazar that I wasn't making a mistake.

Before I had a chance to exit the room, the Werewolf Greyback and a few others ran past me. Greyback gave a snarl as he did so, obviously attempting to scare me. It didn't show, but he did scare me, albeit not in the way he had intended. He was in too much of a hurry to see if his snarl had affected me, however, so it didn't matter.

Once I had re-emerged into the corridor, I had to walk for several minutes to reach the wing that contained the astronomy tower. I also had to duck into alcoves a number of times to avoid the flashes of spells, as somehow the Order and the Death Eaters had both managed to get here before me and were fighting in earnest.

My emotions surged back to flickering life when I saw students were also fighting, and given the proximity to Gryffindor Tower, I was certain they would mostly be from there. A witch with brown hair had me suck in a breath of alarm for a moment until I realised everything else about her was wrong. Nevertheless, I was scared that Hermione was out here somewhere, being as brave and foolish as her housemates. I broke into a sprint, and the corridor was swallowed by darkness as night descended in full force.

I trod on a body on the ground and almost tripped, and the emotions I had strived so hard to bury a short while ago came flooding back as the horror of what was happening crashed down on me. I turned again and dashed up the spiral staircase as if the hounds of hell were upon me. The sound of voices reached my ears, and I thought I was too late to keep my promise.

With wand in hand, I shouted, "Expelliarmus!" hoping to save the old wizard from an attacker. Only a moment too late did I realise that it was him I had disarmed. I glanced around to locate the other person, hoping I still had time.

"Good evening, Draco," the old wizard greeted, as if the glow of the Dark Mark wasn't all that was lighting the night.

"Who else is here?" I inquired, my panic still palpable, spotting the second broom on the floor.

"A question I might ask you. Or are you acting alone?" He queried conversationally.

"No, there are others," I told him truthfully, and then I met his eyes, about to beg for his help, and he sucked in a shocked breath.

"So, it is you. I must confess to being surprised, and there is not much that surprises me at my age. You have more to hide than I had ever realised," Dumbledore said with a frown, and I thought he was coming to the wrong conclusion.

"She has never betrayed anyone. She wouldn't do that, and I wouldn't ask her too," I told him defensively.

He nodded and said, "I can see that, Draco, but unfortunately others won't agree. The young have a habit of seeing the world in black and white. They don't yet have the experience to know it is all shades of grey." He sighed and slid down to the floor, and for the first time, I realised he was sick or something.

"Death Eaters are here," I said in a renewed surge of panic at that realisation.

"You found a way to let them in?" He inquired, and I was surprised anew to hear the admiration in his voice, as though he were talking about a piece of well-done homework.

"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I fixed it," I muttered with fear, acutely aware I was visibly shaking.

"Ingenious," said Dumbledore. "Yet… forgive me… where are they now? For someone with such an important task, I would have thought you would have had support." I simply shook my head at that. "Ah," he said, as if he understood, and I believed he did.

"And do you think you can do it? The task you have been set to?" He questioned me with curiosity.

"I have no choice," I told him, and I felt a tear slide down my face. I wiped it on my shoulder and refused to let anymore fall.

"Wouldn't have worked anyway, I am afraid," Dumbledore told me with pity. "She has quite stripped you of any hate you truly had for anyone." I frowned at that.

"You don't know what I am capable of," I said forcefully with a lot of self-loathing and guilt. "You don't know what I've done!"

"Oh, yes, I do," said Dumbledore mildly. "You almost killed Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley. You started the year trying to kill me, and then it stopped. I should have realised then, I suppose, but the connection just seems so preposterous. Wouldn't you agree?" he queried. I swallowed and averted my gaze, unsure what to say to that. Once, I was certain I would have agreed with him, but too much has happened since then.

"You could help us," I said, and I even heard the plea in my voice.

"It is too late for that, Draco. If only you had come to me months ago," he said, sounding truly remorseful.

"I don't understand, she..." I was saying, feeling as though I could vomit, when the door banged open, and shouts came up the stairs. I took a step back and raised my wand again by reflex, yet I was acutely aware I was powerless to defend us against Death Eaters and I hadn't even realised I had ever lowered it. I could hear the sounds of continued fighting coming from down below, and I swallowed, hoping more innocents weren't dead. Knowing there was one was horror enough.

Footsteps came thundering up the stairs, and suddenly I was shoved out of the way by four Death Eaters in their black robes. I recognised the Carrow twins and Greyback, but the identity of the final individual eluded me still, despite the fact that he appeared to be the same one who was wearing a mask earlier.

"Dumbledore cornered! Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone!" Amycus exclaimed, giggling excitedly to his sister. He then turned his lopsided leer towards me and said, "Well done, Draco, well done!" I wanted to protest, but strangely, Dumbledore gave a little shake of his head at me.

"Good evening, Amycus," said Dumbledore calmly, as though this were nothing more than a tea party he was welcoming guests to. "And you've brought Alecto too... charming..." Alecto gave an angry little titter at the old wizard.

"Think your little jokes'll help you on your death bed, then?" she jeered.

"Jokes? No, no, these are manners," replied Dumbledore, and I couldn't help but admire the wizard for his bravery and dignity in the face of certain death.

"Do it," Greyback hissed at me, causing me to startle. He smirked at me, his eyes gleaming with expectation.

"Is that you, Fenrir?" Dumbledore inquired, drawing the Werewolf's attention away from me, and I was at a loss as to why. He had already said he couldn't help me. He couldn't help Hermione.

"That's right," rasped the Werewolf. "Pleased to see me, Dumbledore?"

"No, I cannot say that I am..."

Greyback grinned, showing pointed teeth. Blood trickled down his chin, and he licked his lips suggestively, obviously enjoying the show he was putting on. I was relieved his attention wasn't on me because I shuddered in revulsion.

"But you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore."

"I am a little shocked that Draco here invited you, of all people, into the school where his... loved ones are," Dumbledore stated, his gaze shifting back to me.

"I didn't," I breathed, not daring to cast my gaze at Greyback as he turned to glance back at me. "I didn't know he was going to come..."

"My friends and I wouldn't miss a trip to Hogwarts, Dumbledore," Greyback rasped with amusement and threw an arm around me. "We were all a lovely surprise for Draco here too," he said, and he ran a disgusting sharp nail down my cheek but thankfully didn't puncture the skin. I also noticed he stunk to high hell. "I'm still feeling a little peckish, actually. Shall I have you for afters?" Greyback queried the old wizard.

"No," said the unfamiliar Death Eater. His face was heavy-set and brutal, and he had an accent I couldn't quite place. "We've got orders. Draco's got to do it." I frowned at the casual use of my name, but he ignored me and added, "Now, Draco, and quickly." I was aware that my terror was evident. I didn't want to do this. I wanted to keep my promise to Hermione, and Dumbledore's gaze fell back upon me, his features etched with pity.

"He's not long for this world anyway. I don't know what you hit him with, Draco, but you may as well finish the job," Amycus added his approval. "Look at you, Dumbly," Amycus addressed Dumbledore again with another laugh.

"Old age happens to all of us eventually, Amycus. One day, perhaps, it will happen to you… if you are lucky…" Dumbledore said.

"What's that mean, then, what's that mean?" yelled Amycus, suddenly enraged. "Always the same weren't yeh, Dumbly, talking and doing nothing, nothing, I don't even know why the Dark Lord's bothering to kill yeh! Come on, Draco, do it!" Thankfully, we were all distracted by the sound of renewed fighting from down below.

"Now, Draco, quickly!" The brutal-faced wizard yelled angrily at me. I attempted to lift my arm, but it was shaking so badly that I could barely aim. It didn't help that Hermione was all I could think of.

"I'll do it," snarled Greyback, almost shoving me out of the way as he moved towards Dumbledore.

"I said no!" The wizard shouted and blasted the Werewolf out of the way. I pondered who he was that he had the right to order us all about. It wasn't that I doubted that authority; it was merely that I had thought I had met all the inner circle, but clearly, I was wrong.

"Draco, do it, or the Dark Lord will punish you," Alecto screeched, but at that precise moment, the door to the rampart opened, and there stood Severus, absorbing the scene with a single, piercing glance.

"We've got a problem, Snape," Amycus said to him, but his eyes and wand were on Dumbledore. "The boy doesn't seem able…"

"Severus please?" Dumbledore suddenly implored, and the tone sent a jolt of dread through me. Severus advanced, pushing me back without so much as a glance in my direction. The others all fell back, aware Sev held more command here than any of them. "Severus... please..." Dumbledore repeated.

"Avada kedavra!" Severus said with apparent ease, and greenlight shot from his wand, hitting Dumbledore in the chest. My eyes were wide with disbelief. Hermione had been wrong; there had never been a chance. It all appeared to happen in slow motion to me, as Dumbledore's body lifted and fell over the side of the rampart.

The others were laughing and whooping with joy while I stood in place, frozen. Vaguely, I could still hear fighting coming from down below. The others were gone when Sev came over and roughly pulled me by my robes.

"We have to go, Draco, now," he told me, but I couldn't move. I didn't want to leave. I had promised Hermione I would come back. I didn't realise I was meeting his eyes until he swore.

"Salazar preserve us and saved us from the recklessness of fools in love," he said, his gaze fixed on me. He then grabbed my robes again and propelled me into motion. Sev had to protect the both of us as he pushed me past the fighters, but I couldn't see to help anyway. Tears were clouding my vision; I couldn't believe I had failed Hermione and our son so thoroughly, and I wasn't certain I wanted to go on if I couldn't be with them. Nothing else held any importance now. Not even my parents.

"I saw a potion in your mind. Have you tested it? Does it work?" Sev queried when we were on the ground floor.

"Yes," I replied, crying. Part of me was embarrassed to be crying in front of these people, but thank Salazar, only Severus was aware of the reason.

"Take it. Now!" Severus ordered as we stumbled out of the castle.

"I don't want to forget. I promised I would be back," I cried, shaking and running in a stumble.

"You want them to die then?" He questioned me cruelly, right as we heard Harry Potter scream his name. "Go into the forest with the others. Take that potion now and wait for me," he ordered, giving me a shove in that direction.

I turned back for a moment, my gaze lingering on the castle. Then Potter came into view, and I was aware my time was up. In so many more ways than I wanted it to be.

I turned and ran, taking the potion from my robe pocket. I swallowed the contents in one go and tossed the phial aside without care for where it landed. I cried as I thought of every moment, every thought I had had outside of the room to do with Hermione Granger, to do with our baby. The Carrows both laughed at me because they both thought I was overcome with emotion because of Dumbledore, but I couldn't allow myself to think about that until I was certain everything else was gone. Somehow, I managed not to lose that memory for the most part, even though some of the encounter didn't make sense to me anymore.

When Snape emerged into the clearing, he stared at me for a moment, and then, in a rare display of emotion, his expression turned saddened. I thought he was disappointed with my actions tonight.

"Let's go," he said, and he took my arm and me, away from Hogwarts.

Hogwarts 1st July 1997

Hermione's Point of View

I went to the room early the morning after Professor Dumbledore had been killed. Draco Malfoy had fled the castle with the invading Death Eaters, as had Professor Snape. They were both branded as traitors; they had both been accused of taking away our hope and our leader, and with it, what some thought was hope for the future.

It took seconds for everything to consume me, and I fell onto the bed that we had shared for months now and cried as I realised everything I had been ignoring all year. The knowledge that he was hiding things, the distance that he had put between us at times, and the fear that he had in his eyes. But mostly, I thought of my own cowardice and wondered if things would have been different if I had just been brave enough to question him.

I wanted to blame him; I wanted what had happened to make a difference in how I felt, and that it would stop me from watching the door with hope as the hours passed. That it would make me hate him for what Harry claimed Draco had done, but I didn't believe it. I didn't want to believe that he would really do it, despite what I knew he had tried to do earlier this past year. I trusted Draco's words to me too much to ever hate him. I loved him too much to just let go, and spent hours hoping that he would come back to me.

When the door finally opened, I sucked in a breath of relief only to have grief consume me once again when it was Luna who entered instead of him.

"I had a feeling I would find you here," Luna said with a look of pity on her pale and tired face. By the time she had the door shut behind her, she had regained her calm and serene demeanour. She looked me over as she came and sat on the bed, but made no comment on the stomach that couldn't be hidden here.

"I was wrong, Luna. I might just die for my love of him," I cried, knowing she didn't know what I meant. Luna smiled sadly and moved closer to me. She wrapped an arm around me and stroked my hair gently.

"I know how much you love him. And I know he loves you too." She paused and looked into my eyes. "I see you, Hermione Granger. You're like a sturdy oak, too strong to be toppled by the fiercest of storms." She pointed at my stomach and said serenely, "I also know you won't give up because you have someone else to live for now. Someone who needs you more than anything. Someone who is a part of both of you." I sobbed harder and buried my face in her lap. I knew she was right, but it didn't make the pain any less. I felt like I had lost a part of myself when Draco last left this room, and I didn't know if I would ever get it back.

"Harry said he tried to kill Professor Dumbledore. I can't accept it… I mean… I never thought he would actually do it. And Bill, poor Bill. And Neville got hurt…"

"Shhh, calm down, Hermione. Your little one is upset," she told me in her soothing voice, placing her hand on my large belly. I gasped as I remembered I needed to be calm for him; he was pushing at me from inside.

"I'm a traitor," I whispered to her when I was calmer, tears still rolling down my face.

"That seems rather unlikely," Luna replied easily. "Sometimes things aren't as black and white as we would like. Sometimes things don't need to make sense to make them real."

"Are you a seer, Luna?" I asked her, hoping for some glimpse of hope in this dark situation.

"You don't believe in psychics, Hermione," she said with a laugh and a shake of her head. "No, I'm a Heliopath. I see things other people can't."

"Oh," I said weakly, then added, "I'm not familiar with that term."

"That's all right. It's a rather forgotten magical gift," she said.

"Draco and I spoke of who we would have asked to be Aiden's godparent if we could have chosen one," I told her as I stared across at the bath and wished the tears would stop falling. "It would have been you. Perhaps that seems strange, but I have felt closer to you this year than either Ron or Harry, and Draco felt like he was completely alone… except for me," I said and let out a hard sob again.

"I accept, of course," she said as though I had really asked her, and then, looking at the ceiling said, "Oh, how pretty."

"Draco had them put up for Valentine's Day," I told her. I didn't have to look up to see the enchanted stars and moon that still hung along the ceiling. It had seemed terribly romantic to me at the time, but now I felt like they were just more proof of my deceit.

"No, I don't think so. The room liked the idea of making me your son's godmother and approved with a shower of sparkly flying creatures. I think I will call them Sparkflies," she said, reaching out as if she could touch one gently. She pondered for a moment, then added, "I think you will find that magic will agree now that I am Aiden's godmother," she explained, and I frowned through my tears.

"Why can't magic make all wishes come true?" I asked sadly.

"Because it doesn't have control over free will. We are still humans, and let preconceptions guide us instead of letting magic truly show us the way," she said as she continued to stroke my hair. "I would think it has tried, though."

"How do I know if it was all real?" I whispered.

"Wrackspurts don't lie, Hermione. Draco's were reaching out to yours for a long time, but he always dragged them back with force. Yours paid no noticed, of course. They were too busy trying to get Rons to notice them, but his were shy. Imagine my surprise when, one day, they started to dance back and forth between the two boys, looking very confused. Draco's wrackspurts were delighted, and he rarely fought the pull you had on him then. You, of course, continued to be confused for months, while his fell completely in love. It was a beautiful show to watch," Luna confessed wistfully.

"I think I need to leave," I whispered suddenly. "I don't think I can be here anymore."

"I think that is a good thing," Luna agreed. I pushed myself up into a sitting position to look around the room that still held so much of him.

"I can't leave this like it is," I commented.

"Jomny will help, My Lady," Jomny's voice said, still sounding broken, as he got up from the floor on the other side of the bed. I hadn't realised he had been sitting there or that he was even in the room, but I wasn't surprised.

I looked over at the dreamcatcher and commented, "Draco will have nightmares without that," and then gasped as another sob tore out of my throat. Luna pulled me tight against her again until I could stop crying. "I'm sorry," I whispered to her.

"I hope I love somebody this much one day," she replied.

"It hurts," I confessed. The pain in my heart was crushing, and I felt like it was hard to even move because of it.

"Maybe that is your proof it is real," she mused. I just nodded and then climbed off the bed. I looked around, unsure where to start. I saw my journal sitting on the table and walked over to it. I felt as if I should be hiding it away, like the lie my life had become. I saw the Charms book Draco had given me in the bookcase and went and picked it up.

"Jomny?" I asked. "Can you please do something with these?" I asked, handing him the book and my journal. "The dreamcatcher, can you..."

"Jomny will make sure everything is well taken care of, My Lady," he told me when I trailed off, not sure what I wanted done with the items. "Jomny will pack up the room. Jomny will put everything where it belongs."

"Thank you, Jomny," I said in relief.

"Sir Elf. Can I request that you visit with me later tonight and share with me what has been spoken of today?" Luna asked him. Jomny looked towards me but nodded without waiting for a reply. "Come on, Hermione. Let's go see Madame Pomphrey. She'll make sure you are able to leave," Luna said, taking my arm. I nodded and walked to the door. I stopped and looked back at the room, knowing a piece of myself was being left behind here.

Author's notes: - ForsakenKalika, as always, thank you for your continued support. It means a lot to me.